Exam-Related Beta-Blocker Use May Help ID Psychologically Vulnerable Students

Researchers in Denmark identified healthy students with a first-time prescription for beta-blockers

The use of beta-blockers to relieve exam-related anxiety is associated with later use of antidepressants and other psychotropic medications, a new study has found.

Researchers in Denmark used nationwide administrative registries and identified healthy students aged 14 to 30 (1996–2012) with first-time claimed prescriptions for beta-blockers during the exam period of May to June.

A total of 12,147 healthy, exam-related beta-blocker users were identified and these were matched to 12,147 healthy students with no current or prior history of beta-blocker use (median age 19 years; 80.3% women).

Overall, 0.14% of healthy students had a first-time beta-blocker prescription, with the highest portion (0.39%) aged 19 years. A significantly greater percentage of beta-blocker users were prescribed an antidepressant in the follow-up period than the non-beta-blocker users, 18.3% compared to 10.1%, respectively (P<0.0001). The follow-up ratio was similar for those prescribed a psychotropic drug; with 10.1% of the beta-blocker users and 5.4% of the non-beta-blocker users filling prescriptions (P<0.0001).